Cost reduction is one of the most important considerations in millimeter-wave (MMW) radar development. Hardware, especially the phase-shifters, for electronic beam scanning in the MMW band presents very complex fabrication challenges that dramatically raise the device cost. A typical mechanically-scanning antenna contains one or more hinged parts (lenses, mirrors or feeds). In operation they experience strong mechanical accelerations and other forces that sharply limit the scanning speed. We propose a solution to this problem, using a leaky-wave periodically loaded antenna design and a new architecture. This paper presents the basic design, and discusses related issues.
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